The Time Bank: Investing Time in Communities

Every Wednesday, 40-year-old Yael, a recent immigrant from Russia, gives Baht, a 26-year-old native Israeli, piano lessons. When Yael needs electrical and home repairs done at her home, Ilan, 60, comes round to help. Ten-year-old David, a young boy in the neighborhood, proudly tends to Ilan's garden. As for Baht, instead of paying for her piano lessons, she helps David with his homework.

Yael, Baht, Ilan and David are all residents of the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat Menachem and part of JDC's Time Bank program, a network of "time donors" who donate their time and abilities to others in their community, and receive services in return, thereby creating a unique chain.

The program, which is based on an American model – "Time Dollars", was first introduced to Israel in July 2003 as a partnership of JDC and the Israel Association of Community Centers. The program provides a unique opportunity for Israelis to give back to society by "depositing" time in a Time Bank in exchange for the services they receive. For many Israelis, who due to the economic hardships of recent years are often the recipients of assistance, the reminder of their ability to give to others is vital.

Ayala, the Time Bank coordinator in Kiryat Menachem, points out, "With the Time Bank, everyone is equal. No one is the needy party. People who previously felt helpless are able to contribute. Additionally, the Time Bank creates communal solidarity. City life can be very isolating. The Time Bank nurtures mutual assistance, which serves to strengthen the community."

This sense of community solidarity is especially poignant in Kiryat Menachem. A low-income neighborhood with a large immigrant population on the southwestern edge of the city, Kiryat Menachem has had its fair share of shared trauma – in 2002, a terrorist blew up the number 20 bus as it passed through the area. "Kiryat Menachem is a neighborhood facing a lot of stigma; it's considered to be socially and economically weak," Ayala explains, "In contrast, Time Bank demonstrates to residents their hidden power, their ability to create change."

For the 200 residents in Kiryat Menachem who have already become time donors, the Time Bank has also instilled a sense of communal responsibility. "Time Bank participants are involved in communal institutions as they never were before. They feel more connected to where they live because they're more connected to their neighbors." Ayala says.

Michael, 68, is an excellent example of a Kiryat Menachem resident who has become more communally involved thanks to his affiliation with the Time Bank. As a time donor, he offers handyman services and receives English lessons which are helping him to overcome his dyslexia. But his Time Bank experience has also inspired him to do more. Today he writes for the local newspaper and has launched a new neighborhood food drive for needy families.

There are currently two Time Bank pilot programs operating in Jerusalem. This year, JDC plans to take the program nationwide, working with local partners to establish Time Banks in ten locations across the country. These include a regional council in the Galilee, the development town of Ofakim in the south, and a group pioneered by single mothers in Petach Tikvah.

JDC's professional assistance comprises national coordination and training, as well as resources such as an internet site to track time donors and professional expertise to ensure the program's tax exempt status. This support literally helps communities help themselves. As Ayala says, "Time Bank brings a community together and shows that they have the ability to make a difference."